API Updater via Visual UI Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing software interfaces face challenges in automatically updating Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) based on user interface (UI) changes without manual intervention or access to the UI's code, leading to inefficiencies and potential security risks in integrating different software components.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that analyzes the UI to identify key-value pairs, defines a dynamic data stream, and dynamically updates the API values in response to UI changes, allowing for real-time updates without accessing the UI's code or involving third-party developers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual intervention is used to update APIs based on UI changes, then integration accuracy can be maintained, but integration time and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration accuracyVSAvoidintegration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing the UI to automatically update the API through visual analysis. The API updater component autonomously monitors UI changes, extracts key-value pairs, and updates the API without requiring manual developer intervention, thus reducing integration time while maintaining accuracy through automated validation processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual process of API updating with an automated visual analysis system. Instead of developers manually tracking and updating API parameters, the system uses visual monitoring of the UI to automatically detect changes and update the API, substituting human effort with automated image processing and pattern recognition techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If access to UI code is required to update APIs, then comprehensive updates can be achieved, but security risks and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate completenessVSAvoidsecurity risks

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary component (the API updater) that acts as a mediator between the UI and the API. This intermediary visually analyzes the UI through the display interface and translates observed changes into API updates without requiring direct access to the UI's source code, thereby maintaining security while achieving comprehensive updates through visual monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a visual copy or representation of the UI state through image capture and analysis. Instead of accessing the actual UI code, the system works with visual copies of the UI elements, extracts key-value pairs from these visual representations, and uses them to update the API, thus avoiding security risks associated with code access while maintaining update completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Stability of the object's composition

If traditional API integration methods are used, then system stability is maintained, but adaptability to UI changes decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to UI changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamics by enabling the API to adapt dynamically to UI changes. The continuous visual monitoring and real-time update mechanism allows the API structure to evolve automatically as the UI changes, maintaining system stability through controlled adaptation rather than requiring rigid, static integration configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where the API updater continuously monitors the UI for changes, detects key-value pair modifications, and automatically updates the API accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures the API remains synchronized with the UI while maintaining system stability through automated, incremental adjustments rather than disruptive changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10853703B2Systems and methods for interfacing between software components

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 CARBYNE LTD

AI summary

There is provided a computer implemented method for automatically updating an application programming interface (API) according to a user interface (UI), comprising: providing a UI presented on a display of a computing device, analyzing the visual presentation of the UI on the display to identify at least one key-value pair, defining a dynamic data stream based on the at least one key-value pair, providing the dynamic data stream to an API for access by client code, monitoring the UI presented on the display to detect dynamic updates of the at least one key-value pair, and dynamically updating each respective value of each of the at least one key-value pair of the dynamic data stream of the API according to the detected dynamic updates.